Man scams six restaurants out of food and drink with promises to pay later

A man who rustled food and drink from six restaurants without paying the bill was nabbed after a pub owner smelled a rat.

By the time Bradley James Thomas visited the Black Harp, an Irish bar on New Plymouth’s Devon St East on April 4, he had already scammed meals and beverages from five other popular eateries in the city, all under the pretext he would come back to settle the bill.

While the unpaid bills were not extravagant, averaging about $24 per restaurant visit, Thomas knew from the outset he didn’t have the funds in his account.

Detective Sergeant Dave MacKenzie said between March 31 and April 4, Thomas racked up an unpaid meal and drinks bill of $144.80.